Folding step stool



Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE FOLDING STEP sTo'o-L. y Robert o. Heyne, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 16, 1939, Serial No. 273,941

4 Claims. (Cl.` 155-42) This invention relates to step stools and in particular to a stool'embodying means for throwing the step portion of the stool either closed or open by foot pressure. v

A particular object of the invention is to provide, in a step stool of the character referred to.' a foot operated means for throwing the steps lof the stool outwardly or to open. position ready for use as a step ladder, and for throwing the steps inwardly or closed to a position beneath the stool out of the way when the stool is not in use as a ladder or is in use as a stool only.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pedal lever and linkage arrangement for the purpose of throwing the steps o-utwardly and inwardly by the downward pressure of the foot on the pedal lever so that it is unnecessary to use the top of the toe portion of a shoe in any operating movement of the steps. The foot pedal is pressed down to open the steps and is again presseddown to close the steps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for the purpose described which will be simple in construction, easy and light to operate, will afford a convenience to the housewife or other user who may wish to mount the step stool to store a number of articles that engage both hands, it being possible with a slight toe pressure on the pedal lever to open the steps for use without the necessity of employing the hands.

In the construction of the step stool, it is also possible to operate the step portion of the stool by the hands if desired, although the use of the floot pedal obviates stooping either to open or close the steps, and thus saves labor and time. In the mechanism, the parts are so arranged that the step portion is pivotally mounted and balanced so that a throw of the steps in either opening or closing movement to a point beyond the balance or dead center of pivot point will cause the step portion to assume the openv or closed position under the influence of gravity.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing in full lines, the open position of the step portion of the stool, and in outline the closed position of said step portion, parts being broken away for better illustration, and

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation showing the arrangement of the parts as they would appear when the step portion of the stool is in the open position as seen in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Iii indicates 'the supporting legs of a stool Il,having a top I2 and rungs I3 to provide a stool of Well known character commonly used in kitchens and a1'- ranged to serve the dual purpose of stool and step ladder by the incorporation'in the stool of a set of steps, the tops of the steps and the top of the stool being preferably provided with a non-slipping surface such as a rubber mat. This construction is well known and in my pres- 'ent invention, I wish to eliminate the necessity of stooping over to lift the steps to usable` posi- I tion or close them after use and to this end, I provide a step portion i4, comprising sides I5 and steps I6 and il. The step portion is mounted for pivotal swinging movement on a cross rod I8 extending between `front legs I0 and positioned vin suitable'openings in said legs at the time of assembling the stool in manufacture. portion of the stoo-l is maintained in laterally fixed position by suitable wood washers or any other spacing means I9 and thev cross rod I8 passes through the sides I5 of said step portion.

The rear edges of the sides I5 are cut out as at 2) to clear and provide a stop seat for the rung 2l extending across the front of the stool, so that, as the step portion is swung to the outline or closed position as illustrated in Figure 1, it will be limited in its inward swinging movement by the rung 2l.

To one side I5 of the step portion, I mount a pivot plate 22, on a stud 23 on which is pivoted one end of a downwardly extending pedal lever 24 whose lower end is extended horizontally beyond one side of the stool to pro-vide a footpiece 25 on said pedal lever.` Any type of vfootpiece may be provided. Intermediate the footpiece 25 and the pivoted end of the pedal lever 24, the latter is connected by a link 26 to a stud 21 lmounted on one of the side rungs I3 of the tool.

Astep portion about its pivot rod I8. As the foot piece reaches its lower point, which is the position indicated by the outline D position in Figure 1,

the momentum of the swinging foot portion I4 will continue said step portion to its closed position and cause the raising movement of the foot- The step piece 25 of the pedal lever so that said foot piece will occupy the outline position indicated in Figure 1 when the step stool part I4 is fully closed under the stool top. With the foot piece 25 in this position, it can be pressed down to throw the step portion I4 upwardly and outwardly* and the momentum of the swinging part will carry it over its dead center and under the influence of gravity will be caused to fall to open position. The influence of gravity is also responsible for the closing movement of the step portion after it passes the dead center area. It is evident that a downward thrust on the foot piece 25 by the toe of the shoe is suiicient to open or close the step portion I4 without using the hands and this downward movement to either open or close the step portion is of importance in that the top of the shoe is not marred and also greater pressure can be exerted more quickly by a downward pressure than by an upward one.

It is evident therefor, that I have provided a novel step stool construction which can be quickly and easily operated to open or close the steps thereof and one which is inexpensive to manufacture, is light in weight and requires no knowledge in its operation.

My invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and alterations therein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What I claim is:

1. In a step stool, in combination, a stool top, a supporting structure including legs and rungs, a step portion presenting sides and steps, mounted between said legs for pivotal swinging movement to a position inwardly and outwardlyof said supporting structure, a depending pedal lever, pivoted to the step portion, a link connecting said lever with said supporting structure for guiding the lever in its downward movement to swing the step portion inwardly and said link serving as a fulcrum for the lever in its downward movement to swing said step portion outwardly.

2. In a step stool, in combination, a stool structure, a step portion pivoted to said structure, for swinging movement to positions inwardly and outwardly of said structure, a pedal lever pivoted to the step portion, a link connecting the lever with said structure for guiding the pedal lever in downward movement to swing the step portion inwardly and said link serving as a fulcrum for said pedal lever in its downward movement to swing said step portion outwardly.

3. In a step stool, in combination, a stool structure, step portion pivoted to said structure for swinging movement to positions inwardly and outwardly of said structure, a pedal lever pivoted to the step portion, a link connecting the lever with said structure for guiding the pedal lever in its downward movement to swing the step portion inwardly and said link serving as a fulcrum for said pedal lever in its downward move ment to swing said step portion outwardly, and

means for limiting the inward swinging move.

ment of the step portion.

4. In a step stool, in combination, a stool structure, a step portion pivoted to said structure for swinging movement to positions inwardly and outwardly of said structure, a pedal lever pivoted l to the step portion and presenting a foot piece extending beyond said structure, a link connecting the lever with said structure for guiding the pedal lever in downward movement to swing the step portion inwardly and said link serving as a l.

fulcrum for said pedal lever in its downward movement to swing said step portion outwardly, and means for limiting the inward swinging movement of the step portion.

ROBERT C. HAYNE. 

